Key facts
- Over 100 people were arrested outside Woolwich Crown Court in London.
- Arrests were made under counter-terrorism legislation for alleged support of a proscribed organization.
- The demonstration was linked to the sentencing of four Palestine Action activists.
- Previous rulings found the proscription of Palestine Action unlawful, but the ban remains pending further proceedings.
- Similar arrests occurred at pro-Palestine demonstrations across England on November 29, 2025, and in London on September 6, 2025.
Over 100 people were arrested outside Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London during the sentencing of four activists linked to the pro-Palestine group Palestine Action. The demonstration involved a sit-in with approximately 200 participants holding placards, some reading "Saving lives is not terrorism" and "I support Palestine Action."
Police stated that the arrests were made under counter-terrorism legislation, specifically concerning support for a proscribed organization. This action follows a period of debate regarding Palestine Action's legal status, particularly after a UK High Court ruling in February 2026 declared the group's proscription unlawful, though the government has maintained the ban pending further legal proceedings.
Similar demonstrations and arrests have occurred previously. On November 29, 2025, dozens were arrested across England, including 31 in Bristol, 34 in Manchester, and 25 in Birmingham, under the Terrorism Act for displaying support for Palestine Action. In Norwich, 10 protesters were arrested under similar legislation. In London on the same day, a separate rally organized by the Palestine Coalition saw five arrests for affray and Public Order Act offenses.
On September 6, 2025, London's Metropolitan Police arrested around 150 demonstrators in Parliament Square for expressing support for Palestine Action, which had been designated a terrorist group in July 2025 following damage to an RAF base. Organizers, such as Defend Our Juries, have been protesting the ban, arguing it infringes on freedom of speech and have encouraged supporters to overwhelm police with arrests. Over 700 people had been arrested in the two months prior to this protest for similar actions.